Knies Zauberhut

Rapperswil, Switzerland

Photo © F. Pinjo

Cultural Centers

Architects: Carlos Martinez Architekten

Location: Rapperswil, Switzerland
Year: 2018
Team: David Gschwend

Magical radiance – The Knie Conjurer’s Hat symbolises the world of magic. Built in the heart of the Knie children’s zoo, the airy structure of the upwardly unfolding volume recalls a conjurer’s silk cloth or a circus world. Visitors hope to discover an exotic world, expectations that are heightened by the oriental formal language.

The winning project of an architectural competition serves as a venue for performances and a hall for special events. The self-supporting folded covering gives the central arena its spectacular character. The canopy’s all-encompassing nature creates a soft spatial atmosphere and ensures balanced acoustics. The terraced levels and front seating steps integrate the new structure into the existing context. In the north, the menagerie’s auxiliary rooms support the roof. They form the building’s backbone.

To accommodate the slope and guarantee ground-floor entrances both on the north and south sides, the auxiliary rooms are situated underground. During the day, visitors enter via the forecourt. Deliveries can use the gate in the northwest. In the south, large portals line the pavilion.

The wooden construction with prefabricated elements enabled a short, efficient construction and assembly period. With its garb of shimmering metal scales and a height of 25 metres, the structure for the children’s zoo has the desired radiance and also defines the urban silhouette.